Life-saving ALS treatment for our friend Michelle

Our amazing friend Michelle Murphy was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in 2021 at just 39 years old. ALS is categorised as a motor neuron disease and has been very topical recently with ‘Climb with Charlie’ which had widespread participation this month. It is an unimaginably cruel disease, where the neurons which control all movement in the body die and the person is slowly trapped inside their physical body due to a deterioration of muscle power and movement, while their mind remains alert and sharp. ALS is a terminal disease with an average life expectancy of 2-5 years, often called the ‘thousand-day disease’.

Michelle was diagnosed in July 2021 and the disease has progressed quite aggressively. Michelle left her diagnosis meeting on foot last July, and from February this year she has been dependent on a motorised wheelchair, with limited use of her arms and hands. It is so hard to comprehend how such an active young woman has transitioned to this life so quickly. She is the strongest person we know.

We are starting this GoFundMe me account to raise money for Michelle to travel to Miami, Florida to start treatment at BodyScience https://www.bodyscience.life/als-program The clinic is conducting pioneering work and have had some massively positive results with ALS patients they are treating - as can be seen on their website.

Michelle has had virtual consultations with BodyScience and been identified as a patient suitable for treatment.

These trips will be extremely challenging financially, given the cost of medical treatment in the US, and there is no form of medical insurance which covers any element. Michelle is advanced in her symptoms and will require much assistance during the trip including transport, special facility accommodation and specialised care, in addition to the medical fees. We expect that the cost of all this will reach in excess of €300,000. We have created this page to give Michelle’s many friends, and those people with whom this story resonates, the opportunity to help support her with this journey. We hope and pray that this will be life changing for her.

If you would like to help Michelle please click to donate.

Thank you!